Vedanta Aluminium sparks statewide HIV awareness wave on World AIDS Day

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, DECEMBER 3, 2025

Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, marked World AIDS Day 2025 with a sweeping public-health campaign across Odisha, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to community wellbeing and disease prevention. Partnering with the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Odisha State AIDS Control Society (OSACS), district health departments and educational institutions, the company mobilised students, frontline workers and rural communities in a powerful call for awareness, early testing and an end to HIV-related stigma.

World AIDS Day stands as a global reminder that collective community action and sustained public-health education are vital to preventing transmission and supporting individuals living with HIV. Vedanta Aluminium has been a long-time advocate of holistic health, with initiatives spanning maternal and child welfare, WASH, disease prevention and accessible healthcare in some of Odisha’s most underserved regions.

Rajiv Kumar, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium, emphasised the company’s commitment to building healthier communities, saying, “At Vedanta Aluminium, we believe that health and wellbeing are the foundation of sustainable communities. From preventive healthcare and maternal-child welfare to awareness on critical issues like HIV/AIDS, our efforts span every facet of public health. By working closely with government agencies, health institutions and local communities, we aim to build an environment where every individual feels informed, supported and empowered to seek care without fear or stigma.”

At Lanjigarh, home to Vedanta’s alumina refinery, a week-long outreach drive featured drawing competitions, college awareness sessions and a community rally. Students also connected with truck drivers — considered a high-mobility group — through informational leaflets promoting safe practices and regular testing.

In Jharsuguda, where the company operates the world’s largest aluminium plant, more than 250 students from schools, nursing institutions and NGOs joined a large-scale awareness rally conducted with OSACS and NACO. Senior district health officials addressed participants, emphasising the importance of early diagnosis, empathy and community support for people living with HIV.

Across the company’s mining locations in Jamkhani, Ghogharpalli, Kuraloi and Sijimali, over 600 students took part in rallies, awareness talks and interactive competitions. Health experts from local PHCs educated participants on symptoms, transmission routes and preventive measures.

Through these consolidated efforts, Vedanta Aluminium reaffirmed its role as a catalyst for community health and an active supporter of national HIV/AIDS control programmes. The company reiterated its commitment to investing in awareness-led interventions that empower communities to make informed health choices and help eliminate stigma.

As India’s largest aluminium producer, manufacturing 2.42 million tonnes in FY25, Vedanta Aluminium continues to couple industrial leadership with strong social stewardship. Ranked 2nd globally in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024 for the aluminium sector, the company remains committed to using the “Metal of the Future” to build a healthier, greener tomorrow — both for industry and for society.